SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury's has had its planning consent for a £15 million new store in Portishead quashed by a High Court judge.

Rival supermarket The Co-operative applied for a judicial review after North Somerset Council granted Sainsbury's planning consent last year to build a new 30,000 sq ft store at Serbert Way in the town.

Chiefs at the Co-operative, which has a store at Wyndham Way, claimed the decision was unlawful and based on incorrect information contained in an independent retail assessment about the impact a new store would have on the town.

It claimed that the opening of a new Sainsbury's in Portishead would take people out of the town centre and could force them – and other stores – out of business.

Co-operative chiefs also said the supermarket plan was contrary to North Somerset's own Local Plan and Core Strategy Document.

Sainsbury's had been due to start work on building the new store last summer. But the legal challenge meant that the opening was likely to be delayed by up to two years.

In response Sainsbury's submitted a second, slightly revised application to planners in May last year, which is due to go before councillors in March. It has again prompted objections from The Co-operative Group.

Sainsbury's said the arrival of its new store would have "no significant adverse impact on the town and that the High Street would benefit from an increased footfall as a result of the new store".

The consultant's report agreed, stating that the new supermarket would prevent people going out of town to do their weekly shopping.

Portishead councillor David Pasley said: "As far as I am aware, none of the local councillors knew the planning permission had been quashed.

"I am disappointed as I think Portishead needs a supermarket like Sainsbury's and it will provide more choice for shoppers."

As well as the Co-operative there are Waitrose, Iceland and Budgens supermarkets in Portishead. Work on a new Lidl supermarket at Harbour is also under way.

North Somerset Council spokesman Nick Yates said: "A decision on first application to grant permission was quashed following judicial review and referred back to us.

"In the meantime Sainsbury's had submitted a second application and this is due to go to committee on March 8."